EVANSTON, Ill. — In an exciting matchup on Thursday night, the 21st-ranked Maryland Terrapins triumphed over Northwestern with an 85-79 victory, highlighted by Kaylene Smikle’s impressive performance of 23 points. Saylor Poffenbarger also made significant contributions, scoring 16 points, while Sarah Te-Biasu and Shyanne Sellers added 16 and 12 points, respectively. Maryland’s shooting from beyond the arc proved beneficial, finishing the game with 9 successful attempts out of 26, compared to Northwestern’s mere 1-for-4 from three-point territory.

For Northwestern, which now holds a record of 9-16 overall and 2-12 in the Big Ten, Melannie Dailey led the scoring for her team with 22 points off the bench. Taylor Williams struggled for consistency but still managed to score 18 points and secure 10 rebounds. Caileigh Walsh contributed 15 points, while Grace Sullivan added 11 points in reserve play. Despite their best efforts, the Wildcats struggled with free-throw shooting, missing 11 out of 35 attempts.

The game began with Smikle’s impressive three-point play, which shifted the momentum away from Northwestern after they initially took the lead. Maryland quickly established control, leading 22-15 at the conclusion of the first quarter. Their lead extended to 27-18 early in the second quarter after a layup by Smikle, allowing them to head into halftime with a comfortable 48-30 advantage.

In the latter part of the game, Northwestern fought back and trimmed Maryland’s lead to 63-53 by the end of the third quarter. The Wildcats made a significant push, outscoring the Terrapins 21-7 in just over six minutes, closing the gap to 74-70 following a layup from Dailey with 3:42 remaining.

However, Maryland responded decisively, with Te-Biasu hitting a key three-pointer with 53 seconds left, part of an 8-4 run that secured them an 82-74 lead. The Terrapins maintained their composure and held on for the win.

Looking ahead, Maryland will face the Indiana Hoosiers on February 27, while Northwestern prepares to take on Wisconsin this upcoming Sunday.